Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green Party, has said it welcomed the recent move by Opposition MP Claudette Buttigieg to present a private member's bill to amend the constitution with regard to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, but has questioned why no mention to gender identity was made.

This was one of the proposals included in the electoral manifesto of Alternattiva Demokratika, which was the only party propagating full equality for LGBT persons in all areas of social life, said AD chairperson Arnold Cassola.

"It is great that Claudette Buttigieg has taken the initiative to present this private member's bill. The anomaly in the Maltese constitution has been there for years, since Malta signed and ratified the 'European Charter of Fundamental Rights', which calls for the eradication of any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation," he said.

He continued: "The swift approval of the Hon. Buttigieg's private members bill will serve to finally get us in line with democratic Europe. Protocol 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights should also be ratified, and Malta should take a more active role in the promotion of human rights of LGBT persons at the international level."

Angele Deguara, AD Spokesperson and representative on the LGBT consultative council, said: "We believe the constitution should be amended to make discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as well as gender identity a thing of the past. AD believes that the fact that both the Government and Opposition are moving in the direction of recognising the rights of the LGBT community augurs well for a more inclusive and socially just society."

However, so far neither the PN nor the PL supports full equality for LGBT persons, she said; "We hope they will continue emulating our policies of true equality without any 'buts'."

Civil Unions Parliamentary Debate and Vote

Note: The Civil Unions Bill [20/2014] has successfully passed through the Maltese Parliament with 37 votes in favour, 30 absentions and 0 votes against on the 14th April 2014. It gives the same rights and obbligations to same-sex couples as those who are registered in a civil marriage (mutatis mutandis).

Travel Advisory Warning: Russia

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